Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans History Month - February

The idea of LGBT History Month came from School’s Out!, a campaigning organisation of LGBT people involved in education. They took their inspiration partly from the United States, where LGBT History Month has been celebrated since 1994.

Activities will be taking place all over the country to celebrate and raise awareness about LGBT issues. LGBT History Month is a time when we can explore and share some hidden aspects of our country’s past, both recent and remote. This hidden history belongs to all of us; it is part of our inheritance.

Understanding who we are

Throughout history we can find many examples of people who refused to conform to the outward signs of the sex to which they were born. We also find many stories of people who loved their own sex. Some of these people were famous or obscure.

Some of them experienced serious persecution. Some are remembered for the contributions they made to our culture and society. Their personal lives have often been suppressed or censored. To understand our present and imagine our future, we must first gain insight into our past. This is true of us as individuals; it is also true of societies.